Prepare for the Berry Blast Off Recipe Contest in Oxnard. Pick your own strawberries in Camarillo. Celebrate National Beer Day in Westlake Village, toast the return of an area winery and go to a plant-based dinner in Ventura. Yep, there's plenty to do, see and taste in and around Ventura County this weekend.

1). ENTER A RECIPE CONTEST

Do you have an amazing, no-bake recipe for strawberries? Put it to the test by entering the Berry Blast Off Recipe Contest presented by the California Strawberry Festival. The entry deadline is Friday. Five semi-finalists will prepare their dishes during a timed competition May 1 in the kitchen of an Oxnard hotel. Two finalists will duke it out for the main prizes (a $500 set of Cutco knives and a three-day vacation from Welk Resorts) during a May 19 rematch at the festival itself. For rules and entry forms, visit the "Events and Attractions" tab on the festival website: https://castrawberryfestival.org.

Weather permitting, The Abundant Table organic farm at McGrath Family Farm in Camarillo will offer a special feature Saturday during its once-a-month open house: the launch of pick-your-own-strawberries season.

The Open Farm 1st Saturdays event from 10 a.m. to noon will include a tour of Baby Root Farm with farmer Mike Roberts (a $5 donation is requested; for weather-related updates, check the Abundant Table Facebook page). For a fee of $10 per person, U-pick berry sessions from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday will include a basket of Gaviota strawberries plus a visit with the farm animals (1012 W. Ventura Blvd., http://theabundanttable.org).

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A paper tag helps track pours during a wine-tasting event at Old Creek Ranch Winery. The site will reopen to the public on April 7 following nearly three years of renovations by its new owners.(Photo: LISA MCKINNON/THE STAR)

Located just off Highway 33 between Ojai and Ventura, the rustic winery has been closed to the public since June 2015, when its new owners launched a series of renovation projects. Its grand reopening from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday will include live music by acoustic guitarist Sam Kulchin, an appearance by the SO Truck food truck and, of course, plenty of wine for tasting. (To read a previous Star story about the winery, click on https://bit.ly/2uw8GH6.)

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Nearly three years after purchasing the Old Creek Ranch Winery and closing it for renovations, Jane and Andrew Holguin are getting ready for their big reveal.
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The pour list hasn't been formally announced but promises to include vintages from new winemaker Jeremy Leffert (also the director of winemaking at Rabble Wine Co. in Paso Robles) and by former winemaker Michael Meagher (accessible through the website for his own label, Vino V Wines). Can't make the party? After April 7, Old Creek Ranch Winery will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (10024 Old Creek Road, https://oldcreekranch.com).

4). MEET THE NEW BREWMASTER

Two years after debuting in a Westlake Village industrial park, what was formerly known simply as Westlake Brewing will mark its recent transformation into Westlake Brewing & Libations with a second-anniversary party from 1-7 p.m. Saturday — aka National Beer Day.

Josh McCombs is the new brewmaster at Westlake Brewing & Libations. He formerly worked at Devils Backbone Brewing Co. in Virginia.(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The event will give newly appointed brewmaster Josh McCombs a chance to introduce himself by way of what the official invite describes as "our second-anniversary beers: Caribbean Brown and Westlake Mai Tai." For $10, party attendees will get tastes of both, plus a 5-ounce glass and "artisan bites paired with your beers."

Made from a perennial wheatgrass called Kernza, Patagonia Provisions' Long Root Ale will be served during an April 8 dinner presented by Slow Food Ventura County.(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/DONNIE HEDDEN)

5). EAT (AND DRINK) PLANTS

A menu of plant-based dishes by chef Juan Agustin will be paired to Patagonia Provisions' Long Root Ale (brewed from Kernza, a perennial grain ) and locally grown wines from Los Robles Hills Winery when Slow Food Ventura County presents An Evening with Plants from 4-7 p.m. Sunday.